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Alpha Centauri Facts for Kids

Alpha Centauri Facts for Kids

  • Common Name: Alpha Centauri
  • System Type: Triple Star System
  • Total Stars: 3
  • Star Names: Alpha Centauri A, Alpha Centauri B, and Alpha Centauri C
  • Constellation: Centaurus
  • Distance to Earth: 4.2465 light-years (Alpha Centauri C)
  • Total Planets: 3 (Confirmed)

17 Alpha Centauri Facts For Kids

  1. Alpha Centauri is the name of a triple star system in the Centaurus constellation.
  2. Greco-Egyptian Claudius Ptolemy was the first person to mention Alpha Centauri in the Almagest in the 2nd-century.
  3. The three stars that make up the Alpha Centauri system are Rigil Kentaurus (Alpha Centauri A), Toliman (Alpha Centauri B), and Proxima Centauri (Alpha Centauri C).
  4. Alpha Centauri A is a yellow dwarf star (G-type main-sequence).
  5. Alpha Centauri A is the fourth brightest star in our night sky with an apparent magnitude of +0.01.
  6. Alpha Centauri B is an orange dwarf star (K-type main-sequence).
  7. Alpha Centauri A and B together form the binary star system Centauri AB.
  8. The distance between the Alpha Centauri AB system and Alpha Centauri C is around 0.21 light-years.
  9. There are no known planets in the Centauri AB star system, but there are two potential candidates being investigated
  10. Alpha Centauri C is a small faint red dwarf star (M-type main sequence).
  11. Alpha Centauri C is the closest star to Earth at 4.2465 light-years.
  12. Even though Alpha Centauri C is the closest star to Earth it is too faith to be seen with the naked eye.
  13. If a spacecraft could travel at 10% of the speed of light (67 million mph) it would take 44 years to reach Alpha Centauri C.
  14. There are two confirmed planets orbiting Alpha Centauri C, with a third that has its planet status disputed.
  15. The two confirmed planets in the Alpha Centauri C planetary system are Proxima Centauri b and Proxima Centauri d.
  16. The third disputed planet in the Alpha Centauri C planetary system is Proxima Centauri c.
  17. The Alpha Centauri C planetary system is the closest extrasolar planetary system to Earth.

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